The Nine Fantasies That Will Ruin Your Life (and the Eight Realities That Will Save You)

"Fantasies are fun, sexy, and cool," admits popular radio psychologist Dr. Joy Browne, but they are "a distraction from the business of running our lives successfully and realistically." As a lifestyle choice, fantasies spell disaster, ruin, or at least misery. After collecting hundreds, Browne culled the nine ugliest fantasies, such as:

• "Functional families exist."
• "Stick to your guns."
• "Men and women are from different planets."
• "Somewhere I have a soul mate."

Browne explains the Big Nine, cajoles readers into choosing reality, and answers questions from callers in each chapter. She also includes "Shrink Wraps": additional related fantasies and entertaining tidbits such as "movies that prove my point" and "songs to memorize." After she has dashed our fantasies, she lifts us up with "the eight realities that will save you"--thank goodness!

Browne's warm, friendly, buoyant style leads into important issues safely. But if the gentle approach doesn't work, she nails points with comments like, "You write welcome on your forehead and then you're surprised when he steps on your face," and "It's normal to have pre-wedding cold feet, but don't warm them on the best man's back." If you enjoy Browne on the radio, you'll love this book. --Joan Price